We mean business

This is the new lock that Bryan put on our pantry door. Yes, our kids are not perfect and get into things. This is one of the ways we are trying to "help" them.

It's a new day!!

There are so many things that I want to blog about but I just can't get it into one thought. This has been a pretty good week. I have had many personal experiences that have made me a better person, too. I am so happy to be here on earth at this time. It is amazing to me to see everything that is happening to the economy and in the world in general. I am grateful to have the gospel in my life. I'm grateful that I can only be ME!! That's right....... I'm just Robyn. I am not anyone else, and I embrace that. I am no longer going to compare myself or judge others for their choices. I can only love them, and be who I am!

This week I have had a chance to really sit down and study Preach My Gospel. In our stake we were asked to do all the study sections by the end of December. I'm really enjoying it. I kind of feel like a missionary! I know, I know..... every member is a missionary. I don't know if it is because of this new study tool for me or because I've been praying for missionary experiences but they have been happening.

I'll tell you about one that I had last Tuesday. It's actually a really good one. It's funny how Heavenly Father answers our prayers. Sometimes it comes with a dose of humble pie. :)

I was driving Madelyn to her piano lessons, which happen to be in our neighborhood, when I spotted a garage sale going on with an outside toy I've been looking for!  I made a mental note to stop on the way home and check it out.  Well, after I picked up Madelyn from practice I stopped by as planned. I walked up their driveway when a little boy came out to greet me.  I told him "hi".  I then saw they had a cute dog in a kennel thing, and I asked the older lady standing there if their dog was for sale.  She gave me a strange look and said "no".  I just laughed and continued to rummage through their things and walked over to the outside car toy that I wanted.  I put my hand on the top and said in my best "make a deal" voice ...... "How much you want for it??"  She looked at me strangely again and said "I don't know, let me ask my daughter".  A girl about my age then came out of the garage and the older lady asked her if she was planning on selling that toy.  Then it dawned on me and I said, with my head hung down, "this isn't a garage sale, is it???"  They both looked at me and said "no".  I was soooooooooo embarrassed!!!!  I started talking to the girl and we do have some things in common so I am going to bring her some bread this week, but it is so funny how that all worked out.  

Hope you all have a great week!  We have some unexpected things coming up this week but I cannot blog about it.  It's top secret!!  Shhhhhhhhh!!  

Bryan's Lookalikes

Andrew's Lookalikes

Andrew's Lookalikes

Make Your Own Pizza

Last night our girls had some friends over to swim & play so I decided that it would be fun to have a "make your own pizza" night. This is usually a Christmas Eve Tradition but I found this GREAT recipe for pizza dough that was very quick. It turned out wonderful and tasty!!

Thanks Sarah & Gale!!

I decided to try this out after seeing it on both your blogs. Looks like I'm not that bad..... hem, hem!!

My first digital scrapbook page

Okay, it's hard to admit this but I have no idea what I am doing here!! I downloaded the free trial of PSE to see if I can actually do this. Here is my very first page. Of course, I will not have this printed or anything, it's just a test. It wasn't that hard to do the basics but I know that I have a lot more to learn. Baby steps!!

High School Musical On Ice

Yesterday a good friend and I took our girls to go see High School Musical on Ice at the State Fair.  It turned out to be a really good show.  We knew all the songs and I think I was the only one singing along.  My poor kids!  I totally embarrass them every time we go to something like this.  How did someone like me raise shy kids??  I just will never understand that one!  Anyway, here are the pics.

Under the weather!

I'm so bummed!  I was totally ready for church this morning when Thomas comes in clutching his stomach and screaming.  I ended up staying home with the little ones while friends picked up my oldest 3.  Bryan is in the Bishopric so there was no way for him to come and get the kids before church.  I'm thinking it was a good thing that I stayed home afterall because I feel really icky now, too.  I was dizzy this morning but thought it was because I actually got 8 hours of sleep for the first time.  I'm wondering now if I have a little virus.  Hope not!!!

Anyway, the boys and I are just going to have a quiet morning while we wait for the others to get home from church.  I have some things to update you all on on my blog so we will see how I feel.

Things we couldn't do......

..........in our old home!

Some of you have been to our old house and know exactly what I am talking about. Our kids could not play outside because we lived on a busy road with a very steep driveway. The children are so excited to be able to ride their bikes out front, sit on the hammock, and swim. All fun things they couldn't do before. They now prefer to spend most of their time outside after they are done with their chores, school work, and music practice. Here are a few pics.

The first day of school

I am just realizing that I never posted about my kids' first day of school. I had to drive them to the bus stop in our new neighborhood since we weren't moved into our new house yet. Here they are!

Here is our Madie going into 3rd grade.  

Here is Andrew going into 1st grade.

Katelyn was so excited to start 5th grade.